Valve mechanism for rotating feeding head for combustion chambers



June 1952 R. H. GODDARD 2,599,104

VALVE MECHANISM FOR ROTATING FEEDING HEAD FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBERS Filed Jan. 6, 1950 mnm 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT/7. 60001 1517, 0500 ismm (2 600mm, imam/1.

Patented June 3, 1952 VALVE MECHANISM FOR ROTATING FEED- ING HEAD FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBERS Robert H. Goddard, deceased, late of Annapolis, Md., by Esther C. Goddard, executrilx, Worcester, Mass., assignor of one-half to The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 7 Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,113

4 Claims. (01. 299-450.)

This invention relates to valve mechanism for a rotating feeding head in a non-rotating rockettype combustion chamber, and is a continuationin-part of prior application Serial No. 7016, filed February '7, 1948, now Patent No. 2,536,600.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide valve mechanism having exceptionally large annular valve openings, and to provide pressure-controlled means for opening and closing the valves. A valve structure is also provided which is so constructed that a, plurality of annular valves may be conveniently nested about a common axis.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a combustion chamber and associated valve mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of one of the valves;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a slight modification;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a plurality of nested valves; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified construction.

The invention is shown as embodied in combustion apparatus including a non-rotating combustion chamber C and nozzle N, and a rotating feeding head H positioned adjacent a plurality of nested annular valves V, VI and V2.

The feeding head H is mounted on a hollow shaft I rotatable in bearings II and I2 and may be rotated from any convenient source of power. The feeding head includes a series of annular sleeves or partitions which define passages P, PI and P2 through which combustion liquids, such as oxygen, gasoline and water may be delivered to the combustion chamber C, the water being used mainly for cooling purposes.

The present invention relates particularly to the specific construction of the valves V, VI and V2 by which the feed of liquids to the passages P, PI and P2 is effected and controlled.

The details of construction of the valve V which controls the feed of liquid oxygen to the passage P are shown in Fig. 2. The valve comprises a double-walled annular tube or sleeve 40 having an end slot M which may be closed by an annular valve member 42 mounted within the sleeve 40 and having its outer end beveled and adapted to enter and close the slot 4|.

' 2 The valve member 42 is supported on a diaphragm 44 which is mounted between flanges or discs 45 and 46 extending outward from the inner and outer walls of the valve sleeve 4!] and which is secured at its periphery to the flange 45. A pipe 48 supplies liquid oxygen under pressure through a volute 49.

The opening'between the free inner edge of thediaphragm 44 and the inner face of the flange or disc 45 is closed by an annular bellows member 50, and a hole 5| vents the space S3 enclosed between the parts 44, 45 and 50.

The diaphragm 44 is resilient and is so shaped and proportioned that it normally forces the valve member 42 into the slot 4| and thus closes the valve V. A reenforcing spring 51 may also be provided.

. .When it 'is desired to admit liquid ox gen to the combustion chamber C, the pressure in the supply pipe 48 is increased, thus withdrawing the valve member 42 and permitting flow through the annular slot 4|.

The inner and outer walls of the sleeve 40 are held in spaced relation by cross-pins 53' which extend through slots 54 in the annular valve member 42. These slots 54 also provide communication between the valve spaces inside and outside of the valve member 42. Guide-pins 54 and 55 (Fig. 3) may be provided to guide the valve member 42 as it slides toward and away from the end slot 4|.

If the liquid oxygen is maintained continuously under pressure, the construction shown in Fig. 5 may be adopted, in which liquid or gas under pressure is supplied through a pipe to the space S4 outside of the diaphragm 44. This pressure is normally sufficient to over-come the pressure of the liquid oxygen and to close the valve V. When it is desired to feed oxygen, the pressure in the pipe 60 and space S4 is temporarily reduced. Otherwise, the construction and operation is as previously described in detail in connection with Figs. 2 and 3.

The construction of the valve VI for gasoline and V2 for water is similar to the construction of the valve V, except for differences in diameter and in axial length which are necessary to permit nesting as shown in Fig. 4. The valve VI receives gasoline or other liquid fuel through a pipe 62 and the valve V2 receives water or other cooling liquid through a pipe 55.

With the valve construction herein disclosed, highly efficient provision is made for feeding combustion liquids through a rotating head to a stationary combustion chamber and for effectively cooling all surfaces exposed to high combustion temperatures.

The invention is also adapted for use in feeding combustion liquids to a. rotating feedin head which associated with a rotating, combus'tion chamber.

Having thus described the invention and the advantages thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not tobe 'limitedjtothedetails herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what. is.- claimed,

1. In combustion apparatus hall mg: a fixed combustion chamber and :a rotating feeding? head, that improvement which OQmpfiSES; a fixed annular feeding conduit when is axially extended adjacent said feedingheadand.

has an open axial passage therethrough, and

said conduit having anv annular slot in 'theconduit end adjacent said head, a sleeve valve axially slidable in said annularccnduit, and pressure-operated means1;to= move; said sleeve valve, and saidi'x-axiallyopen annular :condutt "and annular valve structure. facilitating;- finesting of a plurality of iseparate and concentric valves;

2. In combustion apparatus: having :a, "fixed combustion chamber and -'a.1rQtatingfeeding ihead that improvement which comprises; a fixed annular feeding conduitwhich F is axially "extended adj acent; ieeding and which has an open axial passage. therethrough, and said conduit. having annular "Sfi.' il'L'-.1l1l;8-'C0n- "duit end adjacentisaidlhead', a sleeveivalvei'ax- 'i'allys slidable; in :said-r-annular conduit, a, supply passage for said'conduit, :andzi'a memberconnected to said sleeve valve-and exposedlztdfluiii :pressurein. said fpas'sage and effective .to.w'ith- :drawJ- said .sleevenvalveten;increase: ofiisaiil fluiid ipressure, fanct isaid openwa-nnular conduit and annular valve structure facilitating nesting of a plurality of separate? andnoncenitricvalves-..

3. In combustion "apparatus having ;a fixed *sai d bellows member being vented to the atmosphere, and said axially open annular conduit and annular valve structure facilitating meeting; of a plurality of separate and concentrim-valves;

4. In combustion apparatus having a fixed combustionchamber and a rotating feeding head, that improvement which comprises, a fixed annular'feedi'rig conduit which is axially extended adjacent said feeding head and which has an open axial passage therethrough, and said conduit-having; an annular slot. in the conduit-end ad-iaeen-t said-head, a, sleeve valve axially slidable-in saidannular conduit,. a. supply passage for" said, conduit, and a bellows :member. connected'. toisaid sleeve valve. and exposed. to fluid 'Pmssure, saidpassage- .and effective to withdraw-saidsleevewvalveonincrease of said fluid combustionchamber :a-nd :a rotating feeding" -rhead;'i-thatiimprovemenirwhich,comprisesparfixed annular feeding nonduit: which axially extendech adjacent said iteedingl head aandi-whi'ch 'hasan open passagel 'thenethroughi. and

pressure and the inside. 01162141. bellowsmemher being exposed to; pressure. in excess. .ot the fluid: pressure in said passage, whereby said sleeve valve. may be moved to closed position while sa-id passage remainsuunden pressure. and said axially open annular conduit. and annular valve; structure facilitating nesting of a. .pl'ufinality?- of, separate. and concentric; val-vest.

V v ESTHER Id Golan-nan, Executrz'a: of the Last Will, and. Testament of RoberLH. Goddard, Deceased.

nnnnnsncnsfnrrnn The following-references: are of: record-in the fileof; th-iszpatentr v UNITED STATES Number Name Date v1 865 390 -Ba1lard, June 28;;L932 2,071,143 Scott -Feb.'16, 1 .137 2,395,403 Goddard Q Feb. 26;1946 2,434,298 

